Display tool

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes a display, a memory, and a hardware processor. The processor accesses a database that includes initial assumptions, current assumptions, values of a life insurance policy over time, transactions, and payments. The processor displays on a first region of the display a baseline curve, a historical performance curve, and an in-force curve. The processor further displays on various other regions of the display a series of points representing the transactions, a current policy value, a first link to download a first file, a second link to display the current assumptions, a third link to download a second file, a fourth link to display the initial assumptions, a fifth link to open an in-force illustrator used to generate an illustration, a sixth link to create or update a new baseline, a seventh link to display the payments, and an eighth link to display the transactions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to an improved graphical userinterface.

BACKGROUND

In a variety of industries, it is standard practice for companies toprovide information to their consumers and producers (agents who selldirectly to consumers) in the form of multi-page documents. For example,customers commonly receive information about accounts, opportunities,and policies through such documents.

SUMMARY

In a variety of industries, it is standard practice for companies toprovide information to their consumers and producers (agents who selldirectly to consumers) in the form of multi-page documents. For example,consumers commonly receive information about accounts, opportunities,and policies through such documents. With the explosion of the Internetand the use of personal computers, companies have also begun to provideconsumers and producers electronic access to the information containedin such documents, by developing graphical user interfaces through whichthe consumers and producers can view such information. However, suchgraphical user interfaces tend to be quite complex, given the largevolume of data to which they provide access. Given the limited displayarea of a typical computer monitor, such graphical user interfaces aregenerally unable to present all the data contained in traditionalmulti-page documents to a user on a single display page. As a result,such graphical user interfaces frequently contain a large number ofmenus and linked pages that users may find difficult to navigatethrough. For example, if accessing a particular piece of informationfirst requires a user to click through two menus and six links, the usermay simply avoid accessing this information.

As discussed above, such issues exist in a variety of industries inwhich graphical user interfaces are used to present informationtraditionally contained in multi-page documents to producers and/orconsumers. As a specific example, in the life insurance industry,companies traditionally provide information about their insurancepolicies to consumers and producers in the form of illustrations. Forexample, an “as sold” illustration provides information reflecting theoriginal intent of the consumer in purchasing the policy, a “baseline”illustration provides information reflecting the current intent of theconsumer, and an “in force” illustration provides information regardingthe likely future performance of the policy over time, given thepolicy's actual, historic performance. Such illustrations are typically20 to 30 pages in length and are filled with a large quantity of numbersand disclosures. Currently available graphical user interfaces areunable to display this information in an easy to understand format,making it difficult for producers to actively monitor the policies theyhave sold to consumers. This can lead to a variety of issues. Forexample, a producer may be unaware that a policy owner has initiatedlarge withdrawals or loans against his/her policy that put the policy indanger of lapsing. Without such knowledge, the producer may be unable tocounsel the policy owner about the effect of such actions in time toprevent the lapse.

This disclosure contemplates a display tool that addresses one or moreof the above issues. This tool provides an improved graphical userinterface for use in a variety of industries, through which a user canaccess a given piece of information provided by the graphical userinterface directly from the main page of the interface (either byviewing the information directly on the main page of the graphical userinterface, by following a single link, of a set of such links displayedon the main page, to the particular information, or by expanding anadditional section of the interface, display on the main page).

While this disclosure contemplates the use of the display tool in anyindustry, for ease of explanation and understanding but not by way oflimitation, this disclosure describes the tool as implemented for thelife insurance industry. Such an implementation simplifies the processby which life insurance policy producers monitor the policies they havesold; rather than requiring producers to search through multiple complexdocuments stored at a variety of locations, accessible only by clickingthrough multiple links, the display tool provides a producer with anyinformation the producer may want to know about a given policy directlyfrom the main page of the graphical user interface for that particularpolicy. For example, in certain embodiments, the tool accessesinformation about a policy that is stored in a database and then usesthis information to display the expected and historical values of thepolicy over time in an easy to understand, graphical format. Thisgraphical information is presented to a user on a first region of adisplay. Various other regions of the display are used to provide linksto other types of policy information. In this manner, certainembodiments of the tool provide an improved user interface that iseasier to navigate than previous interfaces. Certain embodiments of thedisplay tool are described below.

According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a display, a memory,and a hardware processor communicatively coupled to the memory. Thehardware processor accesses a database. The database includes a set ofinitial assumptions, a set of current assumptions, a set of values of alife insurance policy over time, a list of transactions, and a list ofpayments. The set of values of the life insurance policy over timeincludes an initial value and a current value. The processor displays ona first region of the display defined by a vertical price axis and afirst horizontal time axis a baseline curve, a historical performancecurve, and an in-force curve. The baseline curve includes a first seriesof points representing a first illustration of values for the lifeinsurance policy over time. The first illustration is based on the setof initial assumptions and the initial value. The historical performancecurve includes a second series of points representing the set of valuesof the life insurance policy over time. The in-force curve includes athird series of points representing a second illustration of values forthe life insurance policy over time. The second illustration is based onthe set of current assumptions and the current value. The processorfurther displays on a second region of the display located below thefirst region of the display and defined by a second horizontal time axisa fourth series of points representing the list of transactions. Theprocessor also displays on a third region of the display located abovethe first region of the display the current value. The processoradditionally displays on a fourth region of the display located belowthe second region of the display a first link to download a first file,a second link to display the set of current assumptions, a third link todownload a second file, and a fourth link to display the set of initialassumptions. The first file includes an in-force illustration and thesecond file includes a baseline illustration. The in-force illustrationincludes the second illustration and the baseline illustration includesthe first illustration. The processor further displays on a fifth regionof the display located below the second region of the display and to theright of the fourth region of the display a fifth link to open anin-force illustrator used to generate an illustration, and a sixth linkto create or update a new baseline. The processor also displays on asixth region of the display located below the second region of thedisplay and to the right of the fifth region of the display a seventhlink to display the list of payments and an eighth link to display thelist of transactions.

According to another embodiment, a method includes accessing a database.The database stores a set of initial assumptions, a set of currentassumptions, a set of values of a life insurance policy over time, alist of transactions, and a list of payments. The set of values of thelife insurance policy over time includes an initial value and a currentvalue. The method also includes displaying on a first region of adisplay defined by a vertical price axis and a first horizontal timeaxis a baseline curve, a historical performance curve, and an in-forcecurve. The baseline curve includes a first series of points representinga first illustration of values for the life insurance policy over time.The first illustration is based on the set of initial assumptions andthe initial value. The historical performance curve includes a secondseries of points representing the set of values of the life insurancepolicy over time. The in-force curve includes a third series of pointsrepresenting a second illustration of values for the life insurancepolicy over time. The second illustration is based on the set of currentassumptions and the current value. The method additionally includesdisplaying on a second region of the display located below the firstregion of the display and defined by a second horizontal time axis afourth series of points representing the list of transactions. Themethod further includes displaying on a third region of the displaylocated above the first region of the display the current value. Themethod also includes displaying on a fourth region of the displaylocated below the second region of the display a first link to downloada first file, a second link to display the set of current assumptions, athird link to download a second file, and a fourth link to display theset of initial assumptions. The first file includes an in-forceillustration and the second file includes a baseline illustration. Thein-force illustration includes the second illustration and the baselineillustration includes the first illustration. The method additionallyincludes displaying on a fifth region of the display located below thesecond region of the display and to the right of the fourth region ofthe display a fifth link to open an in-force illustrator used togenerate an illustration and a sixth link to create or update a newbaseline. The method further includes displaying on a sixth region ofthe display located below the second region of the display and to theright of the fifth region of the display a seventh link to display thelist of payments, and an eighth link to display the list oftransactions.

According to a further embodiment, a system includes a display, astorage element, and a processing element communicatively coupled to thestorage element. The processing element is operable to access adatabase. The database stores a set of initial assumptions, a set ofcurrent assumptions, a set of values of a life insurance policy overtime, comprising an initial value and a current value, a list oftransactions, and a list of payments. The set of values of the lifeinsurance policy over time includes an initial value and a currentvalue. The processing element is further operable to display on a firstregion of the display defined by a vertical price axis and a firsthorizontal time axis a baseline curve, a historical performance curve,and an in-force curve. The baseline curve includes a first series ofpoints representing a first illustration of values for the lifeinsurance policy over time. The first illustration is based on the setof initial assumptions and the initial value. The historical performancecurve includes a second series of points representing the set of valuesof the life insurance policy over time. The in-force curve includes athird series of points representing a second illustration of values forthe life insurance policy over time. The second illustration is based onthe set of current assumptions and the current value. The processingelement is further operable to display on a second region of the displaylocated below the first region of the display and defined by a secondhorizontal time axis a fourth series of points representing the list oftransactions. The processing element is also operable to display on athird region of the display located above the first region of thedisplay the current value. The processing element is additionallyoperable to display on a fourth region of the display located below thesecond region of the display a first link to download a first file, asecond link to display the set of current assumptions, a third link todownload a second file, and a fourth link to display the set of initialassumptions. The first file includes an in-force illustration and thesecond file includes a baseline illustration. The in-force illustrationincludes the second illustration and the baseline illustration includesthe first illustration. In response to a user selecting the first link,the processing element is operable to save the first file in the storageelement. In response to the user selecting the second link, theprocessing element is operable to display the set of currentassumptions. In response to the user selecting the third link, theprocessing element is operable to save the second file in the storageelement. In response to the user selecting the fourth link, theprocessing element is operable to display the set of initialassumptions. The processing element is further operable to display on afifth region of the display located below the second region of thedisplay and to the right of the fourth region of the display a fifthlink to open an in-force illustrator used to generate an illustrationand a sixth link to create or update a new baseline. The processingelement is also operable to display on a sixth region of the displaylocated below the second region of the display and to the right of thefifth region of the display a seventh link to display the list ofpayments and an eighth link to display the list of transactions. Inresponse to the user selecting the seventh link, the processing elementis operable to display the list of payments. In response to the userselecting the eighth link, the processing element is operable to displaythe list of transactions.

Certain embodiments provide one or more technical advantages. Forexample, an embodiment enables policy producers to access all relevantinformation about an insurance policy they have sold using a singlegraphical user interface, rather than having to search through multipledocuments and pages. As another example, an embodiment providesgraphical representations of insurance policy illustrations that areeasier to understand than the tables and lists of numbers that aretraditionally used in the industry. As a further example, an embodimentprovides a policy producer with up to date information about thepolicies he/she has sold, each time he/she uses the tool. Certainembodiments may include none, some, or all of the above technicaladvantages. One or more other technical advantages may be readilyapparent to one skilled in the art from the figures, descriptions, andclaims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, referenceis now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system;

FIGS. 2A and 2B provide a comparison between a traditional policyillustration and a graphical depiction of the policy illustrationinformation generated by the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 presents an example graphical user interface generated by thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 presents a flowchart illustrating the process by which the systemof FIG. 1 displays the graphical user interface of FIG. 3 on a display;

FIG. 5 presents an example of the information displayed on the graphicaluser interface of FIG. 3 in response to a user selecting a link todisplay a set of assumptions;

FIG. 6 presents an example of the information displayed on the graphicaluser interface of FIG. 3 in response to a user selecting a link todisplay a list of payments;

FIG. 7 presents an example of the information displayed on the graphicaluser interface of FIG. 3 in response to a user selecting a link todisplay a list of transactions;

FIG. 8 presents an example of a form displayed on the graphical userinterface of FIG. 3 in response to a user selecting a link to create anillustration;

FIG. 9 illustrates the process by which a user of the system of FIG. 1creates a new baseline;

FIG. 10 presents an example of a form displayed on the graphical userinterface of FIG. 3 in response to a user selecting a link to create amodel scenario, along with example output generated by the system ofFIG. 1 in response to a user entering information into the form;

FIG. 11 presents a flowchart illustrating the process by which thesystem of FIG. 1 displays information on the graphical user interface ofFIG. 3 in response to a user selecting various links displayed on themain page of the graphical user interface;

FIG. 12 presents an example of the information displayed on thegraphical user interface of FIG. 3 in response to a user selecting anotification link;

FIG. 13 presents a flowchart illustrating the process by which thesystem of FIG. 1 displays a notification link on the graphical userinterface of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 14A and 14B present examples in which the graphical user interfaceof FIG. 3 displays policy illustration data over different timescales,including an annual timescale and a lifetime timescale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure and its advantages are bestunderstood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 14 of the drawings, likenumerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the variousdrawings.

In a variety of industries, it is standard practice for companies toprovide information to their consumers and producers (agents who selldirectly to consumers) in the form of multi-page documents. For example,consumers commonly receive information about accounts, opportunities,and policies through such documents. With the explosion of the Internetand the use of personal computers, companies have also begun to provideconsumers and producers electronic access to the information containedin such documents, by developing graphical user interfaces through whichthe consumers and producers can view such information. However, suchgraphical user interfaces tend to be quite complex, given the largevolume of data to which they provide access. Given the limited displayarea of a typical computer monitor, such graphical user interfaces aregenerally unable to present all the data contained in traditionalmulti-page documents to a user on a single display page. As a result,such graphical user interfaces frequently contain a large number ofmenus and linked pages that users may find difficult to navigatethrough. For example, if accessing a particular piece of informationfirst requires a user to click through two menus and six links, the usermay simply avoid accessing this information.

As discussed above, such issues exist in a variety of industries inwhich graphical user interfaces are used to present informationtraditionally contained in multi-page documents to producers and/orconsumers. As a specific example, in the life insurance industry,companies traditionally provide information about their insurancepolicies to consumers and producers in the form of illustrations. Forexample, an “as sold” illustration provides information reflecting theoriginal intent of the consumer in purchasing the policy, a “baseline”illustration provides information reflecting the current intent of theconsumer, and an “in force” illustration provides information regardingthe likely future performance of the policy over time, given thepolicy's actual, historic performance. Such illustrations are typically20 to 30 pages in length and are filled with a large quantity of numbersand disclosures. Currently available graphical user interfaces areunable to display this information in an easy to understand format,making it difficult for producers to actively monitor the policies theyhave sold to consumers. This can lead to a variety of issues. Forexample, a producer may be unaware that a policy owner has initiatedlarge withdrawals or loans against his/her policy that put the policy indanger of lapsing. Without such knowledge, the producer may be unable tocounsel the policy owner about the effect of such actions in time toprevent the lapse.

This disclosure contemplates a display tool that addresses one or moreof the above issues. This tool provides an improved graphical userinterface for use in a variety of industries, through which a user canaccess a given piece of information provided by the graphical userinterface directly from the main page of the interface (either byviewing the information directly on the main page of the graphical userinterface, by following a single link, of a set of such links displayedon the main page, to the particular information, or by expanding anadditional section of the interface, display on the main page).

While this disclosure contemplates the use of the display tool in anyindustry, for ease of explanation and understanding but not by way oflimitation, this disclosure describes the tool as implemented for thelife insurance industry. Such an implementation simplifies the processby which life insurance policy producers monitor the policies they havesold; rather than requiring producers to search through multiple complexdocuments stored at a variety of locations, accessible only by clickingthrough multiple links, the display tool provides a producer with anyinformation the producer may want to know about a given policy directlyfrom the main page of the graphical user interface for that particularpolicy. For example, in certain embodiments, the tool accessesinformation about a policy that is stored in a database and then usesthis information to display the expected and historical values of thepolicy over time in an easy to understand, graphical format. Thisgraphical information is presented to a user on a first region of adisplay. Various other regions of the display are used to provide linksto other types of policy information. In this manner, certainembodiments of the tool provide an improved user interface that iseasier to navigate than previous interfaces. The display tool will bedescribed in more detail using FIGS. 1 through 14.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100. As seen in FIG. 1, system 100includes a network 115, a database 120, a user 110, and a display tool105. Generally, display tool 105 accesses database 120 over network 115to obtain information about a life insurance policy A. Display tool 105then presents this information to user 110 in the form of a graphicaluser interface displayed on display 165. The format and components ofthe graphical user interface are described in detail below, in thediscussion of FIGS. 3 through 14.

Network 115 facilitates communication between and amongst the variouscomponents of system 100. This disclosure contemplates network 115 beingany suitable network operable to facilitate communication between thecomponents of system 100. Network 115 may include any interconnectingsystem capable of transmitting audio, video, signals, data, messages, orany combination of the preceding. Network 115 may include all or aportion of a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a public orprivate data network, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan areanetwork (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a local, regional, or globalcommunication or computer network, such as the Internet, a wireline orwireless network, an enterprise intranet, or any other suitablecommunication link, including combinations thereof, operable tofacilitate communication between the components.

Database 120 stores information about a group of life insurance policiesthat producers have sold to consumers. Specifically, for a given lifeinsurance policy A, database 120 stores initial assumptions 125 thatcapture a policy owner's expectations regarding policy A on the date ofinception, which are used to generate a baseline policy illustration forpolicy A, current assumptions 130 used to determine an in-force policyillustration for policy A, policy values 135 of life insurance policy Aover time, including initial value 135A and current value 135B, a listof payments 140 that a consumer has applied to policy A, a list ofscheduled transactions 145 that a consumer is scheduled to perform onpolicy A, and a list of completed transactions 150 that a consumer hasperformed on policy A.

This disclosure contemplates that the set of initial assumptions 125 andthe set of current assumptions 130 can include values such as thedesired death benefit, the desired rate of return, the policy premium,desired distributions from the policy, and included policy riders. Incertain embodiments, the set of initial assumptions 125 and the set ofcurrent assumptions 130 are the same. This may occur when a policyconsumer has not sought to change any of the attributes of his/herpolicy during the lifetime of the policy.

As seen in FIG. 1, display tool 105 includes a processor 155, a memory160, and a display 165. This disclosure contemplates processor 155 andmemory 160 being configured to perform any of the functions of displaytool 105 described herein. Generally, display tool 105 implementsdisplay controller 170 and illustration calculator 175. In certainembodiments, display tool 105 also implements transaction monitor 180.

Illustration calculator 175 uses initial assumptions 125 and initialpolicy value 135A to determine a first series of points representing afirst illustration of values for life insurance policy A over time, fromthe policy inception date to a future date. Illustration calculator 175also uses current assumptions 130 and current policy value 135B todetermine a second series of points representing a second illustrationof values for life insurance policy A over time, from the current dateto a future date. Illustration calculator 175 then passes the firstillustration and the second illustration to display controller 170,which displays a baseline curve including the first series of points andan in-force curve including the second series of points on a firstregion of display 165.

Illustration calculator 175 may be a software module stored in memory160 and executed by processor 155. An example algorithm for illustrationcalculator 175 is as follows: access database 120; copy initialassumptions 125 and initial value 135A for policy A from database 120and store these values in memory 160; evenly split a date range startingfrom the policy inception date to a given future date into a set numberintervals, each interval associated with a starting date; for each ofthe set number of intervals: {determine the expected value of policy Aon the starting date associated with the interval, given initial value135A and initial assumptions 125; send the expected value to displaycontroller 170}; access database 120; copy current assumptions 130 andcurrent value 135B for policy A from database 120 and store these valuesin memory 160; evenly split a date range starting from the current dateto a given future date into a set number of intervals, each intervalassociated with a starting date; for each of the set number ofintervals: {determine the expected value of policy A on the startingdate associated with the interval, given the current value 135B andcurrent assumptions 130; send the expected value to display controller170}; delete the copies of initial assumptions 125, initial value 135A,current assumptions 130 and current value 135B stored in memory 160.

In certain embodiments, in response to receiving various inputs 185 fromuser 110, illustration calculator 175 additionally generates atraditional illustration document, as discussed in further detail below,in the discussion of FIG. 8; updates baseline curve 310, as discussed infurther detail below, in the discussion of FIG. 9; and/or determines theeffect of hypothetical changes in policy parameters on in-force curve314, as discussed in further detail below, in the discussion of FIG. 10.

Display controller 170 receives information from database 120 andillustration calculator 175, along with user inputs 185, and uses thisinformation to display a graphical user interface on display 165. Forexample, in certain embodiments, display controller 170 receives a firstseries of points representing a first illustration of values for lifeinsurance policy A over time, from the policy inception date to a futuredate, and a second series of points representing a second illustrationof values for life insurance policy A over time, from the current dateto a future date, from illustration calculator 175, along with policyvalues 130 from database 120. Display controller 170 then uses thisinformation to display a baseline curve, an in-force curve, and ahistorical performance curve in a first region of display 165. Inaddition, display controller 170 displays links to further policyinformation on various other regions of display 165. A detaileddescription of the types of policy information and links displayed bydisplay controller 170 on display 165 is presented below, in thediscussion of FIGS. 3 and 4. In certain embodiments, display controller170 additionally causes display 165 to present further information aboutpolicy A in response to user 110 selecting one of the links displayed bydisplay controller 170 on display 165. In certain further embodiments,display controller 170 additionally causes display 165 to presentfurther information about policy A in response to user 110 expanding oneor more regions of display 165. A detailed description of the types offurther policy information presented on display 165 in response to user110 selecting one of the links displayed by display controller 170 ondisplay 165 is provided below, in the discussion of FIGS. 5 through 11.

Display controller 170 may be a software module stored in memory 160 andexecuted by processor 155. An example algorithm for display controller170 is as follows: receive a first series of points representing a firstillustration of values for life insurance policy A on a first set ofdates and a second series of points representing a second illustrationof values for life insurance policy A on a second set of dates, fromillustration calculator 175; display the first series of points and thesecond series of points in a first region of display 165; accessdatabase 120; copy those policy values 130 from database 120 for datesthat coincide with the first set of dates; display the copied policyvalues 130 in the first region of display 165; display a set of links toadditional policy information on display 165; in response to a userselecting a link to display additional policy information, display theadditional policy information associated with the link on display 165.

In certain embodiments, display tool 105 also includes transactionmonitor 180. In certain such embodiments, transaction monitor 180monitors completed transactions 150 stored in database 120. Iftransaction monitor 180 determines that a transaction stored incompleted transactions 150 is not included in the list of scheduledtransactions 145 stored in database 120, transaction monitor 180communicates this information to display controller 170, which causesdisplay 165 to display a first notification on a region of display 165to the left of the first region. In further embodiments, transactionmonitor 180 determines that a transaction in the list of scheduledtransactions 145 is set to occur within a given period of time.Transaction monitor 180 then communicates this information to displaycontroller 170, which causes display 165 to display a secondnotification on the region of display 165 to the left of the firstregion. In certain embodiments the first notification and the secondnotification displayed by display controller 170 on display 165correspond to links that a user 110 can select to obtain informationeither about the unscheduled transaction, in the case of the first link,or the upcoming transaction, in the case of the second link. In certainembodiments, display controller 170 causes display 165 to display only asingle notification link regardless of the number of notificationscommunicated to display controller 170 by transaction monitor 180.

In certain embodiments, in addition to causing display controller 170 todisplay a notification on display 165, transaction monitor 180 sends amessage 190 to user 110 containing the notification. This disclosurecontemplates that message 190 can be an SMS text message, an electronicmail message, an application push-notification message, or any othertype of electronic message communicated by display tool 105 to user 110.Sending message 190 to user 110 in addition to displaying a notificationlink on display 165 may be desirable for those users 110 who do notregularly view the graphical user interface of display tool 105.Providing messages 190 to such users 110 in addition to displaying anotification link on the graphical user interface, will likely providesuch users 110 with additional time during which they can contact policyowners to warn them about the risk of their policies lapsing and/ornotify them that they should take distributions from their policiesprior to the lapse and/or scheduled distribution date.

Transaction monitor 180 may be a software module stored in memory 160and executed by processor 155. An example algorithm for transactionmonitor 180 is as follows: access database 120; compare the list ofcompleted transactions 150 to the list of scheduled transactions 145;determine that a transaction in the list of completed transactions 150is not in the list of scheduled transactions 145; communicate to displaycontroller 170 that an unscheduled transaction has occurred, along withthe details of the unscheduled transaction; determine that a transactionin the list of scheduled transactions 145 is set to occur within a givenperiod of time; communicate to display controller 170 that a scheduledtransaction is set to occur, along with the details of the scheduledtransaction.

Processor 155 is any electronic circuitry, including, but not limited tomicroprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC),application specific instruction set processor (ASIP), and/or statemachines, that communicatively couples to memory 160 and controls theoperation of display tool 105. Processor 155 may be 8-bit, 16-bit,32-bit, 64-bit or of any other suitable architecture. Processor 155 mayinclude an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) for performing arithmetic andlogic operations, processor registers that supply operands to the ALUand store the results of ALU operations, and a control unit that fetchesinstructions from memory and executes them by directing the coordinatedoperations of the ALU, registers and other components. Processor 155 mayinclude other hardware and software that operates to control and processinformation. Processor 155 executes software stored on memory to performany of the functions described herein. Processor 155 controls theoperation and administration of display tool 105 by processinginformation received from network 115, user 110, and memory 160.Processor 155 may be a programmable logic device, a microcontroller, amicroprocessor, any suitable processing device, or any suitablecombination of the preceding. Processor 155 is not limited to a singleprocessing device and may encompass multiple processing devices.

Memory 160 may store, either permanently or temporarily, data,operational software, or other information for processor 155. Memory 160may include any one or a combination of volatile or non-volatile localor remote devices suitable for storing information. For example, memory160 may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),magnetic storage devices, optical storage devices, or any other suitableinformation storage device or a combination of these devices. Thesoftware represents any suitable set of instructions, logic, or codeembodied in a computer-readable storage medium. For example, thesoftware may be embodied in memory 160, a disk, a CD, or a flash drive.In particular embodiments, the software may include an applicationexecutable by processor 155 to perform one or more of the functionsdescribed herein.

Display 165 is a screen used by display tool 105 to display informationstored in database 120 and/or generated from information stored indatabase 120. Display tool 105 displays this information on display 165in the form of a graphical user interface. In certain embodiments,display 165 is a standard display used in a laptop computer. In certainother embodiments, display 165 is an external display device connectedto a laptop or desktop computer. In further embodiments, display 165 isa standard touch-screen liquid crystal display found in a typicalsmartphone or tablet.

In certain embodiments, display tool 105 provides policy producers witheasily accessible information about the life insurance policies theymanage, by presenting this information in the form of an unconventionalgraphical user interface on display 165. This graphical user interfacedisplays graphical representations of the expected performance of thepolicy over time—starting from the date of policy inception—along withthe actual performance of the policy, and a illustration for futurepolicy performance in a first region of display 165. Such graphicalrepresentations are easier to understand than the tables and lists ofnumbers that typically make up the policy illustrations that aretraditionally presented to producers in the life insurance industry. Thegraphical user interface also displays various links to additionalpolicy information in further regions of display 165, enabling a user110 to access all relevant information about a policy directly from themain page of the graphical user interface, rather than having to searchthrough multiple documents and pages stored at various locations forsuch information, as was traditionally the case.

FIGS. 2A and 2B provide a comparison between a traditional lifeinsurance policy illustration and an example graphical depiction ofinformation contained in such an illustration, as generated by displaytool 105 of FIG. 1. As can be seen in FIG. 2A, life insurance policyinformation is typically presented to producers through multi-page lifeinsurance policy illustrations, which each contain various numbers andtables. On the other hand, FIG. 2B presents an example graphicaldepiction of life insurance policy information as generated by displaytool 105. From a comparison of these two presentation types, it isreasonable to assume that a producer will spend considerably more timeanalyzing the data presented in FIG. 2A to obtain the basicunderstanding of the behavior of a life insurance policy that he/shecould obtain simply by glancing at the data presented in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3 presents an example graphical user interface 302 displayed bydisplay tool 105 on display 165. Graphical user interface 302 includes afirst region 304 of display 165 defined by a vertical price axis 306 anda first horizontal time axis 308. First region 304 includes a baselinecurve 310, a historical performance curve 312, and an in-force curve314. Baseline curve 310 includes a first series of points representing afirst illustration of values for the life insurance policy over time,where the first illustration is based on the set of initial assumptions125 and the initial value 135A of the policy. Historical performancecurve 312 includes a second series of points representing the set ofvalues 135 of the life insurance policy over time. In-force curve 314includes a third series of points representing a second illustration ofvalues for the life insurance policy over time, where the secondillustration is based on the set of current assumptions 130 and thecurrent value 135B of the policy. In-force curve 314 will likely bedifferent from baseline curve 310 in situations in which a policy ownerhas modified current assumptions 130 from initial assumptions 125 and/orperformed unscheduled transactions with his/her policy.

This disclosure contemplates that the set of initial assumptions 125 andthe set of current assumptions 130 can include values such as thedesired death benefit, the desired rate of return, the policy premium,desired distributions from the policy, and included policy riders. Incertain embodiments, the set of initial assumptions 125 and the set ofcurrent assumptions 130 are the same. This may occur when a policyconsumer has not sought to change any of the attributes of his/herpolicy during the lifetime of the policy.

Graphical user interface 302 also includes a second region 315 locatedbelow first region 304 and defined by a second horizontal time axis 316of the same scale as first horizontal time axis 308. Second region 315includes a fourth series of points 318A and 318B representingtransactions from the list of completed transactions 150. Byillustrating the timings of completed transactions, display tool 105enables a user 110 to easily understand the causes of any unexpecteddeviations of the historical performance curve 312 from the baselinecurve 310.

Above first region 304, graphical user interface 302 also includes athird region 320 of display 165. Third region 320 includes current value322 of the life insurance policy. In certain embodiments, third region320 includes additional up-to-date information about the life insurancepolicy, including a current rate of return 324 of the life insurancepolicy, a current net death benefit amount 330 for the life insurancepolicy, and a predicted lapse date (if any) 332 for the life insurancepolicy determined from the in-force illustration curve 314. In certainembodiments, third region 320 also includes information that provides acomparison between the actual performance of the policy and the exceptedperformance of the policy, based on the consumer's intentions on thedate of the policy inception. For example, third region 320 mayadditionally include a current expected value 326 of the policydetermined from the baseline illustration curve 310, a current expectedrate of return 328 of the policy determined from the current expectedvalue 326, a current expected net death benefit amount 334 determinedfrom the initial assumptions 125, and an expected lapse date (if any)336 for the life insurance policy determined from the baseline curve310. This comparison enables a producer to clearly see the impact of anyunscheduled transactions and/or modifications in policy assumptions thata policy owner has made on the current value of his/her policy. Incertain embodiments, graphical user interface 302 can expand thirdregion 320 to display additional policy information, in response to auser 110 clicking to access a drop-down section of third region 320.

Below second region 315, graphical user interface 302 includes a fourthregion 338, a fifth region 348, and a sixth region 354, each of whichinclude a series of links that user 110 can select to obtain additionalinformation about the life insurance policy. For example, fourth region338 includes a first link 340 to download a first file that includes thein-force illustration document for the policy and a second link 342 todisplay the set of current assumptions 130 for the policy. Fourth region338 also includes a third link 344 to download a second file thatincludes the baseline illustration document and a fourth link 346 todisplay the set of initial assumptions 125 used to generate the baselineillustration. The behavior of display tool 105 in response to user 110selecting either second link 342 or fourth link 346 is described indetail below, in the discussion of FIG. 5.

To the right of fourth region 338, graphical user interface 302 includesfifth region 348. Fifth region 348 includes a fifth link 350 to open anin-force illustrator application and a sixth link 352 to create orupdate a new baseline curve. The in-force illustrator application isused to generate a traditional illustration document. The behavior ofdisplay tool 105 in response to a user selecting fifth link 350 isdescribed in detail below in the discussion of FIG. 8, and the behaviorof display tool 105 in response to user 110 selecting sixth link 352 isdescribed in detail below in the discussion of FIG. 9.

To the right of fifth region 348, graphical user interface 302 includessixth region 354. Sixth region 354 includes a seventh link 356 todisplay the list of payments 140, and an eighth link 358 to display thelist of scheduled transactions 145 and the list of complete transactions150. The behavior of display tool 105 in response to a user selectingseventh link 356 is described in detail below in the discussion of FIG.6 and the behavior of display tool 105 in response to a user selectingeighth link 358 is described in detail below in the discussion of FIG.7.

In certain embodiments, graphical user interface 302 additionallyincludes a seventh region 360 to the left of first region 304. Seventhregion 360 displays a series of links 360A through 360F to resourcesthat are available to producers. For example, link 360A provides a linkto general information about graphical user interface 302, link 360Bprovides a link to a training module that provides training on the useof graphical user interface 302, link 360C provides a link to a glossaryof terms, link 360D provides a link to instructions on how to set a newbaseline curve 310 in first region 304, link 360E provides a link to aset of frequently asked questions and answers, and link 360F provides alink to a prospectus and monthly performance review.

In certain further embodiments, graphical user interface 302 includes afeedback link 362 located below seventh region 352. In response to auser 110 selecting feedback link 362, display tool 105 displays a formon display 165 into which user 110 can enter and submit feedback aboutgraphical user interface 302 for receipt by an administrator of displaytool 105.

By providing a producer access to a wide variety of policy informationdirectly from the main page of graphical user interface 302 (either bydisplaying the information directly on the main page or providing a linkto the information on the main page), display tool 105 greatlysimplifies the manner in which the producer accesses information about agiven policy, thereby enabling the producer to more efficiently monitorhis/her policies.

FIG. 4 illustrates the process by which the system of FIG. 1 displaysthe main page of graphical user interface 302 on display 165. In step405, display tool 105 accesses a database 120 storing a set of initialassumptions 125, a set of current assumptions 130, a set of values of alife insurance policy over time 135 (including an initial value 135A anda current value 135B), a list of transactions (including both scheduledtransactions 145 and completed transactions 150), and a list of payments140. Using this information, in step 410, display tool 105 displays on afirst region 304 of display 165 defined by a vertical price axis 306 anda first horizontal time axis 308 a baseline curve 310, a historicalperformance curve 312, and an in-force curve 314. Next, in step 415,display tool 105 displays on a second region 315 of display 165 locatedbelow first region 304 of display 165 and defined by a second horizontaltime axis 316 a series of points 318A and 318B representing the list ofcompleted transactions 150. Display tool 105 then displays on a thirdregion 320 of display 165 located above first region 304 the currentvalue 322 of the life insurance policy in step 420. In step 425, displaytool 105 displays on a fourth region 338 of display 165 located belowsecond region 315 a first link 340 to download a first file comprisingan in-force illustration, a second link 342 to display the set ofcurrent assumptions 130, a third link 344 to download a second filecomprising a baseline illustration, and a fourth link 346 to display theset of initial assumptions 125. Next, in step 430, display tool 105displays on a fifth region 348 of display 165 located below secondregion 315 and to the right of fourth region 338 a fifth link 350 toopen an in-force illustrator and a sixth link 352 to create or update anew baseline. The in-force illustrator is used to generate a traditionalillustration document. Finally, in step 435, display tool 105 displayson a sixth region 354 of display 165 located below second region 315 ofdisplay 165 and to the right of fifth region 348 of display 165 aseventh link 356 to display the list of payments 140 and an eighth link358 to display a list of transactions, including both scheduledtransactions 145 and completed transaction 150.

In certain embodiments, method 400 contains additional steps, duringwhich display tool 105 displays additional information on display 165.For example, in certain embodiments, display tool 105 also displays inthird region 320 of display 165 additional up-to-date information aboutthe life insurance policy, including a current rate of return 324 of thelife insurance policy, a current net death benefit amount 330 for thelife insurance policy, and a predicted lapse date (if any) 332 for thelife insurance policy determined from the in-force illustration curve314. In certain embodiments, display tool 105 also displays in thirdregion 320 of display 165 information that provides a comparison betweenthe actual performance of the policy and the expected performance of thepolicy, based on the consumer's intentions on the date of the policyinception. For example, display tool 105 may additionally display inthird region 320 a current expected value 326 of the policy determinedfrom the baseline illustration curve 310, a current expected rate ofreturn 328 of the policy determined from the current expected value 326,a current expected net death benefit amount 334 determined from initialassumptions 125, and an expected lapse date (if any) 336 for the lifeinsurance policy. This comparison enables a producer to clearly see theeffect of any unscheduled transactions and/or modifications in policyassumptions that their client has made on the current value of theirpolicy. In certain further embodiments, graphical user interface 302 canexpand third region 320 to display additional policy information, inresponse to a user 110 clicking to access a drop-down section of thirdregion 320.

In certain other embodiments, display tool 105 additionally displays aseventh region 352 to the left of first region 304. Seventh region 360includes a series of links 360A through 360F to resources that areavailable to producers. For example, link 360A provides a link togeneral information about graphical user interface 302, link 360Bprovides a link to a training module that provides training on the useof graphical user interface 302, link 360C provides a link to a glossaryof terms, link 360D provides a link to instructions on how to set a newbaseline curve 310 in first region 304, link 360E provides a link to aset of frequently asked question and answers, and link 360F provides alink to a prospectus and monthly performance review.

In certain further embodiments, display tool 105 also displays afeedback link 362 located below seventh region 352. In response to auser 110 selecting feedback link 362, display tool 105 displays a formon display 165 into which user 110 can enter and submit feedback aboutgraphical user interface 302 for receipt by an administrator of displaytool 105.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 400depicted in FIG. 4. Method 400 may include more, fewer, or other steps.For example, steps may be performed in parallel or in any suitableorder. While discussed as display tool 105 (or components thereof)performing the steps, any suitable component of system 100 may performone or more steps of the method.

FIGS. 5 through 11 illustrate the behavior of display tool 105 inresponse to user 110 selecting one of the various links displayed on themain page of graphical user interface 302.

FIG. 5 presents an example of the type of information displayed bydisplay tool 105 on graphical user interface 302 in response to a user110 selecting second link 342 to view in-force illustration assumptions.When a user 110 selects second link 342, display tool 105 displayssecond page 505 on display 165, where second page 505 contains the setof current assumptions 130. In certain embodiments, the set of currentassumptions 130 includes a death benefit 510, a rate of return 515,premium payment amounts 520, distribution amounts 525, and includedriders 530. Through second link 342, this information is accessible to auser 110 directly from the main page of graphical user interface 302.This may be desirable given that display tool 105 uses the set ofcurrent assumptions 130 to determine the in-force illustration curve314. Therefore, a producer may select second link 324 to help him/herunderstand the behavior of in-force illustration curve 314, or toprovide a policy owner information about the current assumptions 130underlying the owner's life insurance policy. Once user 110 is finishedwith this information, he/she can simply select button 535, which closessecond page 505, to return to the main page of graphical user interface302.

In a similar manner, when a user 110 selects fourth link 346, displaytool displays a third page containing the set of initial assumptions 125on display 165. This disclosure contemplates that the third page is ofthe same format as second page 505 illustrated in FIG. 5; the third pagesimply illustrates initial assumptions 125 rather than currentassumptions 130 and refers to the “baseline illustration” rather thanthe “inforce illustration.” In certain embodiments, the set of initialassumptions 125 displayed on the third page and the set of currentassumptions 130 displayed on second page 505 have the same values. Thismay occur when a policy consumer has not sought to change any of theattributes of his/her policy during the lifetime of the policy.

FIG. 6 presents an example of the type of information displayed bydisplay tool 105 on graphical user interface 302 in response to a user110 selecting seventh link 356 to view a consumer's payment history.When a user 110 selects seventh link 356, display tool 105 displaysfourth page 605 on display 165, where fourth page 605 contains the listof payments 140. In certain embodiments, the list of payments 140 isdisplayed in payment history region 610. In such embodiments, for eachpayment in the list of payments 140, display tool 105 displays thepayment date 610A, the payment type 610B, and the payment amount 610C,in payment history region 610. Examples of payment types include premiumpayments and loan repayments. In certain embodiments, life insurancepolicy 105 additionally displays baseline illustration premium schedule615 on fourth page 605. By displaying baseline illustration premiumschedule 615 along with payment history region 610, display tool 105enables a user 110 to compare the payments a policy owner has made tohis/her life insurance policy with the payments the policy owner wasscheduled to make (according to the baseline illustration), therebyeasily identifying any discrepancies. Once user 110 is finished with thepolicy owner's payment history, displayed in payment history region 610on fourth page 605, he/she can easily return to the main page ofgraphical user interface 302, simply by selecting back button 620.

FIG. 7 presents an example of the type of information displayed bydisplay tool 105 on graphical user interface 302 in response to a user110 selecting eighth link 358 to view a consumer's transaction history.When a user 110 selects eighth link 358, display tool 105 displays fifthpage 705 on display 165, where fifth page 705 contains completedtransactions 150 displayed in transaction history region 710 andscheduled transactions 145 displayed in baseline illustration assumedtransactions region 715. For each transaction displayed in transactionhistory region 710, display tool 105 displays the transaction date 710A,the transaction type 710B, and the transaction amount 710C. Examples oftransaction types include loans and withdrawals of funds. By displayingbaseline illustration assumed transactions region 715 along withtransaction history region 710, display tool 105 enables a user 110 tocompare the transactions a consumer has made using his/her lifeinsurance policy with the transactions the consumer was scheduled tomake (according to the baseline illustration), thereby easilyidentifying any discrepancies. Once user 110 is finished with theconsumer's transaction history displayed in transaction history region710 on fifth page 705, he/she can easily return to the main page ofgraphical user interface 302, simply by selecting back button 720.

FIG. 8 presents an example of the type of information displayed bydisplay tool 105 on graphical user interface 302 in response to a user110 selecting fifth link 350 to open the inforce online illustrator. Incertain embodiments, when a user 110 selects fifth link 350, displaytool 105 displays first form 805 on display 165. First form 805 containsa series of fields 820 a through 820 i into which a user 110 can inputlife insurance policy parameters. Display tool 105 then uses theseparameters to generate a traditional policy illustration document. Incertain embodiments, display tool 105 saves the traditional policyillustration document to memory 160.

In certain embodiments, rather than displaying all of the fields used bydisplay tool 105 to generate the traditional illustration document ondisplay 165 at the same time, first form 805 contains links 810 athrough 810 g to subsets of such fields. For example, when a user 110selects link 810 a, display tool 105 displays fields related to premiumchanges on first form 805, as shown in FIG. 8. When a user 110 selectslink 810 b, display tool 105 displays fields related to death benefitchanges. When a user 110 selects link 810 c, display tool 105 displaysfields related to underwriting/benefit changes. When a user 110 selectslink 810 d, display tool 105 displays fields related to owner changes.When a user 110 selects link 810 e, display tool 105 displays fieldsrelated to distributions. When a user 110 selects link 810 f, displaytool 105 displays fields related to illustration assumptions. Finally,when a user 110 selects link 810 g, display tool 105 displays fieldsrelated to reports.

Once a user 110 has finished inputting parameters into the variousfields—illustrated here as fields 820 a through 820 i, representing thesubset of fields accessible under the premium changes link 810 a—user110 may request that display tool 105 use these parameters to generate atraditional illustration document. A user does this by selecting link825. In response to a user selecting link 825, display tool 105 createsa traditional illustration document based on the parameters user 110 hasentered into first form 805. In certain embodiments, display tool 105then saves the document to memory 160. In this manner, display tool 105provides users 110 access to life insurance policy information of atraditional format, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, in addition to the moreeasily accessible format illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3. Once user 110 isfinished generating a traditional illustration document, user 110 caneasily return to the main page of graphical user interface 302 simply byclosing first form 805 using button 830.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the process by which a user 110 createsa new baseline curve 310 in first region 304 of graphical user interface302, using display tool 105. In step 905, user 110 selects sixth link352 to create/update a baseline. In certain embodiments, in response touser 110 selecting sixth link 352, display tool displays second form805. In certain such embodiments (and as illustrated here), second form805 is the same as first form 805, described in detail above in thediscussion of FIG. 8. User 110 then enters parameters into second form805 based on policy assumptions that best match the policy goals of thepolicy owner. Display tool 105 receives these parameters and uses themto determine a series of points representing a new baseline, which thetool then displays in first region 304.

In certain embodiments, display tool 105 receives the parameters inresponse to user 110 selecting link 825—to generate an illustrationbased on the parameters—as illustrated in step 910. In generating theillustration based on the parameters, display tool 105 determines aseries of points representing the new baseline. The tool then displaysthese points as baseline curve 310 in first region 304, in response touser 110 selecting “Set As Baseline” from action menu 835 a, displayedby display tool 105 in response to user 110 selecting the case historylink 835 from first form 805, as illustrated in step 915. In thismanner, user 110 can easily add or modify a consumer's baselineillustration curve 310 displayed in first region 304 of graphical userinterface 302.

While not illustrated in FIG. 3, in certain embodiments, the main pageof graphical user interface 302 additionally includes a link to open amodel scenario builder page 1005, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Forexample, in certain embodiments, the link to open model scenario builderpage 1005 is located in fifth region 348 of graphical user interface302, displayed on display 165.

FIG. 10 presents an example of three forms 1010, 1015, and 1020displayed on graphical user interface 302 of FIG. 3 in response to auser 110 selecting a link to open model scenario builder page 1005,along with output displayed in output region 1050 that is generated bydisplay tool 105 and displayed on display 165 in response to user 110entering information into the forms. While the example presented in FIG.10 illustrates the use of three forms—1010, 1015, and 1020—thisdisclosure contemplates life insurance tool 105 displaying and receivinginput from any number of forms.

Output region 1050 is similar to first region 304, displayed by displaytool 105 on the main page of graphical user interface 302. For example,both baseline illustration curve 1025 and in-force illustration curve1030 are displayed in output region 1050. In addition, display tool 105displays first scenario curve 1035, second scenario curve 1040, andthird scenario curve 145 in output region 1050. Display tool 105determines first scenario curve 1035 from inputs entered by user 110into fields 1010 a, 1010 b, and 1010 c, located in first form 1010.Display tool 105 determines second scenario curve 1040 from inputsentered by user 110 into fields 1015 a, 1015 b, and 1015 c, located insecond form 1015. Finally, display tool 105 determines third scenariocurve 1045 from inputs entered by user 110 into fields 1020 a, 1020 b,and 1020 c, located in third form 1020.

First scenario curve 1035, second scenario curve 1040, and thirdscenario curve 1045 may be used by user 110 to investigate the effect ofcertain changes to a life insurance policy over time. For example, auser 110 may use scenario builder page 1005 to determine the long-termeffect of an increase in premium payments for a policy. In certainembodiments, fields 1010 a, 1010 b, and 1010 c of form 1010 (along withfields 1015 a, 1015 b, and 1015 c of form 1015 and fields 1020 a, 1020b, and 1020 c of form 1020) are used to examine the effects of a changein the net annual rate of return for a policy, the premium value for thepolicy, and a premium drop-in value (i.e., a lump sum additional premiumpayment) over time. Scenario builder page 1005 may be desirable forproducers 110 who wish to counsel policy owners on the effects ofcertain policy actions that they may be considering taking.Additionally, scenario builder page 1005 may be a useful tool forproducers 110 seeking to better understand the effects of various policyparameters and actions on the long-term performance of a policy.

FIG. 11 illustrates the process by which life insurance tool 105displays information on graphical user interface 302 in response to auser 110 selecting a link displayed on the main page of graphical userinterface 302.

In step 1102, display tool 105 determines if user 110 selected firstlink 340 displayed in fourth region 338. If user 110 selected first link340, display tool 105 saves a first file including the in-forceillustration in memory 160, in step 1104. If user 110 did not selectfirst link 340, then in step 1106, display tool 105 determines if user110 selected second link 342 displayed in fourth region 338. If user 110selected second link 342, display tool 105 displays the set of currentassumptions 130 on display 165, in step 1108. If user 110 did not selectsecond link 342, then in step 1110, display tool 105 determines if user110 selected third link 344 displayed in fourth region 338. If user 110selected third link 344, display tool 105 next saves a second fileincluding the baseline illustration in memory 160, in step 1112. If user110 did not select third link 344, then in step 1114, display tool 105determines if user 110 selected fourth link 346 displayed in fourthregion 338. If user 110 selected fourth link 346, display tool 105displays the set of initial assumptions 125 on display 165, in step1116.

This disclosure contemplates that the set of initial assumptions 125 andthe set of current assumptions 130 can include values such as thedesired death benefit, the desired rate of return, the policy premium,desired distributions from the policy, and included policy riders. Incertain embodiments, the set of initial assumptions 125 and the set ofcurrent assumptions 130 are the same. This may occur when a policyconsumer has not sought to change any of the attributes of his/herpolicy during the lifetime of the policy.

If user 110 did not select fourth link 346, then in step 1118, displaytool 105 determines if user 110 selected fifth link 350 displayed infifth region 348. If user 110 selected fifth link 350, display tool 105displays a first form 805 on display 165 for input of a first set ofparameters used to determine a traditional policy illustration document,in step 1120.

In certain embodiments, first form 805 contains a series of fields 820 athrough 820 i into which a user 110 can input the first set ofparameters. In certain further embodiments, rather than displaying allof the fields used by display tool 105 to generate the traditionalillustration document on display 165 at the same time, first form 805contains links 810 a through 810 g to subsets of such fields. Forexample, when a user 110 selects link 810 a, display tool 105 displaysfields related to premium changes on first form 805, as shown in FIG. 8.When a user 110 selects link 810 b, display tool 105 displays fieldsrelated to death benefit changes. When a user 110 selects link 810 c,display tool 105 displays fields related to underwriting/benefitchanges. When a user 110 selects link 810 d, display tool 105 displaysfields related to owner changes. When a user 110 selects link 810 e,display tool 105 displays fields related to distributions. When a user110 selects link 810 f, display tool 105 displays fields related toillustration assumptions. Finally, when a user 110 selects link 810 g,display tool 105 displays fields related to reports.

Next, in step 1122, display tool 105 receives the first set ofparameters. In certain embodiments, display tool 105 receives the firstset of parameters in response to user 110 selecting a link to generate atraditional illustration document. For example, user 110 may select link825, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Display tool 105 then uses the first setof parameters to create a traditional illustration document, in step1124. Finally, in step 1126, display tool 105 saves this document tomemory 160.

If user 110 did not select fifth link 350, then in step 1128, displaytool 105 determines if user 110 selected sixth link 352 displayed infifth region 348. If user 110 selected sixth link 352, display tool 105displays a second form 805 for input of a second set of parameters usedto determine a new baseline, in step 1130. An example second form 805 isprovided in FIG. 8. In certain such embodiments (and as illustratedhere), second form 805 is the same as first form 805, described indetail above as well as in the discussion of FIG. 8. As can be seen inFIG. 8, second form 805 contains a series of fields, 820 a through 820i, into which user 110 can input life insurance policy parameters. Onceuser 110 has input such parameters into second form 805, display tool105 next receives the parameters, in step 1132. Display tool 105 thenuses the parameters to determine a fifth series of points representing anew baseline curve 310, in step 1134. Finally, in step 1136, displaytool 1126 displays the fifth series of points in first region 304 ofdisplay 165.

In certain embodiments, display tool 105 receives the parameters inresponse to user 110 selecting link 825 (which is used to generate anillustration based on the parameters) as illustrated in FIG. 9. Ingenerating the illustration based on the parameters, display tool 105determines a series of points representing the new baseline. The toolthen displays these points as baseline curve 310 in first region 304, inresponse to user 110 selecting “Set As Baseline” from action menu 835 a,displayed by display tool 105 in response to user 110 selecting the casehistory link 835 from first form 805, as further illustrated in FIG. 9.

If user 110 did not select sixth link 352, then in step 1138 displaytool 105 determines if user 110 selected seventh link 356 displayed insixth region 354. If user 110 selected seventh link 354, display tool105 displays the list of payments 140 on display 165, in step 1140. Ifuser 110 did not select seventh link 356, then in step 1142 display tool105 next determines if user 110 selected eighth link 358 displayed insixth region 354. If user 110 selected eighth link 358, display tool 105displays both scheduled transactions 145 and completed transaction 150on display 165.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 1100depicted in FIG. 11. Method 1100 may include more, fewer, or othersteps. For example, steps may be performed in parallel or in anysuitable order. While discussed as display tool 105 (or componentsthereof) performing the steps, any suitable component of system 100 mayperform one or more steps of the method.

By providing a producer access to a wide variety of policy informationthat the producer can reach directly from the main page of graphicaluser interface 302, simply by clicking a single link, display tool 105greatly simplifies the manner in which the producer accesses informationabout a given policy, thereby enabling the producer to more efficientlymonitor his/her policies.

FIG. 12 presents an example of information displayed on graphical userinterface 302, in certain embodiments in which display tool 105 providesnotifications to users 110. In certain such embodiments, display tool105 provides notifications to users 110 in response to upcomingscheduled transactions. This may be desirable, for example, insituations where policy owners are scheduled to take distributions fromtheir policies. Such policy owners may be unlikely to take the scheduleddistributions without first receiving notification from the producers110 who manage their policies. However, given the large number ofpolicies a producer 110 typically manages, the producer may easilyoverlook scheduled transactions, and fail to notify a policy owner thatthe owner should take a distribution from his/her policy. Therefore, byproviding a notification to a producer 110 about an upcomingdistribution that a policy owner is scheduled to take, certainembodiments enable producers 110 to more reliably notify policy ownersabout distributions the owners should take. Display tool 105 is able toprovide users 110 with notifications related to upcoming scheduledtransactions by monitoring scheduled transactions 145 stored in database120. If display tool 105 determines that a transaction stored in thelist of scheduled transactions 145 is scheduled to occur within a setperiod of time, it will generate a notification regarding thistransaction, as discussed in further detail below.

In certain further embodiments, display tool 105 provides notificationsto users 110 in response to unscheduled transactions. This may bedesirable, for example, in situations where policy owners have takendistributions from their policies and/or taken loans out against theirpolicies, either of which may put the policies in danger of lapsing. Byproviding a producer 110 with a notification of such an unscheduledtransaction, certain embodiments may enable a producer to counsel apolicy owner about the effect of his/her action, to help prevent his/herpolicy from lapsing. Display tool 105 is able to provide users 110 withnotifications related to unscheduled transactions by monitoringcompleted transactions 150 stored in database 120. If display tool 105determines that a transaction stored in the list of completedtransactions 150 is not also stored in the list of scheduledtransactions 145, it will generate a notification regarding thistransaction, as discussed in further detail below.

In certain embodiments, display tool 105 provides notifications to users110 in the form of a notification link 1205 displayed on the main pageof graphical user interface 302 to the left of first region 304. When auser 110 selects notification link 1205, display tool 105 displaysnotification page 1210 on display 165, where notification page 1210contains details of the notification(s). For example, notification page1210 illustrated in FIG. 12 contains details about fournotifications—notifications 1215 a through 1215 d. Once a user 110 hasviewed his/her notifications, the user can return to the main page ofgraphical user interface 302 by selecting back button 1220.

In certain embodiments, display tool 105 additionally providesnotifications to users 110 in the form of an electronic message 190 sentto user 110. This disclosure contemplates that message 190 can be an SMStext message, an electronic mail message, an applicationpush-notification message, or any other type of electronic messagecommunicated by display tool 105 to user 110. Sending message 190 touser 110 in addition to displaying notification link 1205 on display 165may be desirable for those users 110 who do not regularly view graphicaluser interface 302 of display tool 105. Providing messages 190 to suchusers 110 in addition to displaying notification link 1205 on graphicaluser interface 302, will likely provide such users 110 with additionaltime during which they can contact policy owners to warn them about therisk of their policies lapsing and/or notify them that they should takedistributions from their policies prior to the lapse and/or scheduleddistribution date.

FIG. 13 illustrates the process by which the system of FIG. 1 displays anotification link on graphical user interface 302, displayed on display165. In step 1305, display tool 105 monitors completed transactions 150and determines if a transaction has occurred that is not in the list ofscheduled transactions 145. If display tool 105 determines that atransaction has occurred that is not in the list of scheduledtransactions 145, display tool 105 next displays a notification link1205 on display 165, in step 1310. If display tool 105 does notdetermine that a transaction has occurred that is not in the list ofscheduled transactions 145, display tool 105 next determines if atransaction that is in the list of scheduled transactions 145 is set tooccur within a given time interval, in step 1315. In certainembodiments, the given time interval is set by user 105. If display tool105 determines that a transaction that is in the list of scheduledtransactions 145 is set to occur within the given time interval, in step1320, display tool 105 displays a notification link 1205 on display 165.Next, in step 1325, display tool 105 sends an electronic message 190 touser 110 containing the notification.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 1300depicted in FIG. 13. Method 1300 may include more, fewer, or othersteps. For example, steps may be performed in parallel or in anysuitable order. While discussed as display tool 105 (or componentsthereof) performing the steps, any suitable component of system 100 mayperform one or more steps of the method.

FIGS. 14A and 14B present alternative views of first region 304 ofgraphical user interface 302. In certain embodiments, first region 304of graphical user interface 302 additionally contains three links—1405,1410, and 1415—that a user 110 can use to display baseline illustrationcurve 310, historical performance curve 312, and in-force curve 314 overthree different timescales. For example, in response to a user selectinglink 1405, display tool 105 displays baseline illustration curve 310,historical performance curve 312, and in-force curve 314 over an annualtimescale, as illustrated in FIG. 14A. In response to a user 110selecting link 1410, display tool 105 displays baseline illustrationcurve 310, historical performance curve 312, and in-force curve 314 overthe expected lifetime of the policy, as illustrated in FIG. 14B.Finally, in response to a user 110 selecting link 1415, display tool 105may display baseline illustration curve 310, historical performancecurve 312, and in-force curve 314 over a monthly timescale.

Enabling a user 110 to display baseline illustration curve 310,historical performance curve 312, and in-force curve 314 over a varietyof different timescales may be desirable to help the user fullyunderstand the effect of various actions taken on the policy. Forexample, as seen in FIG. 14A, baseline curve 310 and in-force curve 314appear to have the same values over the annual timescale illustrated.Therefore, a user 110 viewing only FIG. 14A may assume that a policyowner has taken actions on his/her policy to fully compensate for thedeviation of historical curve 312 from baseline curve 310 and to therebyreturn the policy to its baseline values. However, by viewing baselinecurve 310 and in-force curve 314 on a much longer timescale, asillustrated in the lifetime view of FIG. 14B, user 110 can clearly seethat in-force curve 314 and baseline curve 310 are not in fact the same.

Although the present disclosure includes several embodiments, a myriadof changes, variations, alterations, transformations, and modificationsmay be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that thepresent disclosure encompass such changes, variations, alterations,transformations, and modifications as falling within the scope of theappended claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An apparatus comprising: a display; and a hardwareprocessor configured to: display on a first region of the display: abaseline curve comprising a first series of points representing a firstillustration of values for a life insurance policy over time, the firstillustration based on a set of initial assumptions and an initial valueof the life insurance policy; a historical performance curve comprisinga second series of points representing a set of values of the lifeinsurance policy over time; and an in-force curve comprising a thirdseries of points representing a second illustration of values for thelife insurance policy over time, the second illustration based on a setof current assumptions and a current value of the life insurance policy;and display on a second region of the display a link, selectable by auser, the link corresponding to at least one of: a first link todownload a file comprising at least one of the first illustration andthe second illustration; a second link to display at least one of: theset of current assumptions; the set of initial assumptions; a list ofpayments; and a list of transactions; a third link to open an in-forceillustrator application to generate an illustration; and a fourth linkto create or update a new baseline.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21,wherein the hardware processor is further configured to display, on athird region of the display, a fourth series of points, wherein: thethird region of the display is located below the first region of thedisplay and is defined by a horizontal time axis, each point of thefourth series of points corresponds to a transaction identified in thelist of transactions; and a position of each point of the fourth seriesof points on the horizontal time axis identifies a time of thecorresponding transaction.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein: thelink corresponds to the third link to open the in-force illustratorapplication; and in response to receiving a selection of the link, thehardware processor is further configured to: display a form for input ofa set of parameters used to define the illustration; receive the set ofparameters; and in response to receiving the set of parameters,generate, based on the set of parameters, a file comprising theillustration.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein: the form comprisesa link associated with a subset of parameters of the set of parameters;and receiving the set of parameters comprises: receiving a selection ofthe link associated with the subset of parameters; in response toreceiving the selection of the link associated with the subset ofparameters: displaying a set of fields for input of the subset ofparameters, wherein each field of the set of fields corresponds to oneparameter of the subset of parameters; and in response to displaying theset of fields, receiving the subset of parameters.
 25. The apparatus ofclaim 24, wherein the subset of parameters comprises parametersassociated with at least one of: a change to a premium paymentassociated with the life insurance policy; a change to a death benefitassociated with the life insurance policy; a change to an owner of thelife insurance policy; and one or more distributions associated with thelife insurance policy.
 26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein thehardware processor is further configured to: determine that a firsttransaction has occurred that is not identified in the list oftransactions; and in response to determining that the first transactionhas occurred, display a first notification associated with the firsttransaction on the display.
 27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein thehardware processor is further configured to: determine that a secondtransaction that is identified in the list of transactions is scheduledto occur within a set time interval; and in response to determining thatthe second transaction is scheduled to occur within the set timeinterval, display a second notification associated with the secondtransaction on the display.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein inresponse to determining that the second transaction is scheduled tooccur within the set time interval, the hardware processor is furtherconfigured to send a message to a device, the message alerting a user ofthe device that the second transaction is scheduled to occur within theset time interval.
 29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein: the linkcorresponds to the fourth link to create or update the new baseline; andin response to receiving a selection of the link, the hardware processoris further configured to: display a form for input of a set ofparameters used to define the new baseline; receive the set ofparameters; and in response to receiving the set of parameters:generate, based on the set of parameters, a fourth series of pointsrepresenting the new baseline; and display on the first region of thedisplay a new baseline curve comprising the fourth series of points. 30.The apparatus of claim 29, wherein displaying the new baseline curvecomprises replacing the baseline curve with the new baseline curve. 31.A method comprising: displaying on a first region of the display: abaseline curve comprising a first series of points representing a firstillustration of values for a life insurance policy over time, the firstillustration based on a set of initial assumptions and an initial valueof the life insurance policy; a historical performance curve comprisinga second series of points representing a set of values of the lifeinsurance policy over time; and an in-force curve comprising a thirdseries of points representing a second illustration of values for thelife insurance policy over time, the second illustration based on a setof current assumptions and a current value of the life insurance policy;and displaying on a second region of the display a link, selectable by auser, the link corresponding to at least one of: a first link todownload a file comprising at least one of the first illustration andthe second illustration; a second link to display at least one of: theset of current assumptions; the set of initial assumptions; a list ofpayments; and a list of transactions; a third link to open an in-forceillustrator application to generate an illustration; and a fourth linkto create or update a new baseline.
 32. The method of claim 31, furthercomprising: displaying, on a third region of the display, a fourthseries of points, wherein: the third region of the display is locatedbelow the first region of the display and is defined by a horizontaltime axis; each point of the fourth series of points corresponds to atransaction identified in the list of transactions; and a position ofeach point of the fourth series of points on the horizontal time axisidentifies a time of the corresponding transaction.
 33. The method ofclaim 31, wherein: the link corresponds to the third link to open thein-force illustrator application; and in response to receiving aselection of the link, the method further comprises: displaying a formfor input of a set of parameters used to define the illustration;receiving the set of parameters; and in response to receiving the set ofparameters, generating, based on the set of parameters, a filecomprising the illustration.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein: theform comprises a link associated with a subset of parameters of the setof parameters; and receiving the set of parameters comprises: receivinga selection of the link associated with the subset of parameters; inresponse to receiving the selection of the link associated with thesubset of parameters: displaying a set of fields for input of the subsetof parameters, wherein each field of the set of fields corresponds toone parameter of the subset of parameters; and in response to displayingthe set of fields, receiving the subset of parameters.
 35. The method ofclaim 34, wherein the subset of parameters comprises parametersassociated with at least one of: a change to a premium paymentassociated with the life insurance policy; a change to a death benefitassociated with the life insurance policy; a change to an owner of thelife insurance policy; and one or more distributions associated with thelife insurance policy.
 36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:determining that a first transaction has occurred that is not identifiedin the list of transactions; and in response to determining that thefirst transaction has occurred, displaying a first notificationassociated with the first transaction on the display.
 37. The method ofclaim 31, further comprising: determining that a second transaction thatis identified in the list of transactions is scheduled to occur within aset time interval; and in response to determining that the secondtransaction is scheduled to occur within the set time interval,displaying a second notification associated with the second transactionon the display.
 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising, inresponse to determining that the second transaction is scheduled tooccur within the set time interval, sending a message to a device, themessage alerting a user of the device that the second transaction isscheduled to occur within the set time interval.
 39. The method of claim31, wherein: the link corresponds to the fourth link to create or updatethe new baseline; and in response to receiving a selection of the link,the method further comprises: displaying a form for input of a set ofparameters used to define the new baseline; receiving the set ofparameters; and in response to receiving the set of parameters:generating, based on the set of parameters, a fourth series of pointsrepresenting the new baseline; and displaying on the first region of thedisplay a new baseline curve comprising the fourth series of points. 40.The method of claim 39, wherein displaying the new baseline curvecomprises replacing the baseline curve with the new baseline curve.